Newsletter
march 2024
Dear Fellow Alumni and Friends,
This month we will bring you two editions of the alumni e-newsletter! In this first edition, we have some important campus updates to share as well as a very compelling Follow the Beacon feature. Additionally, we hope you enjoy the roll out of our brand refresh Grounded, We Radiate. You can learn more about that here.
Lori Miltenberger ’92, ’95 M.A.
Director | Career and Alumni Network
Follow the Beacon
Dot Nuechterlein to Retire the
Black & White Stripes
By Brandon Vickrey
Front and center for each men’s basketball game at the ARC, the scorer’s table crew is there. And now, this team’s captain is finishing out the final chapter of a historic run as official scorer Dot Nuechterlein, age 86, will retire at the end of the 2023-24 season after 40 years of holding the official book.
read dot’s story
Campus News
Nationally, universities are facing challenges amidst changing demographic and cultural trends. The sharp drop in the college-age population, the expense of the experience, and the increased skepticism of the worth of a degree compel institutions to reassess priorities and operational strategies. Valparaiso University must see these realities clearly, recognize their urgency, and face them head-on.
Over the past six months, Valpo has undertaken a thorough review of our administrative and academic frameworks. The University embarked on a comprehensive analysis, engaging dozens of faculty and staff members in interviews, hundreds of responses from campus-wide surveys, and data analyses over the past six months. This collaborative effort, punctuated by three town hall meetings and accessible communication channels, underscores the University's commitment to transparency and inclusive decision-making.
Several findings of this comprehensive review have now been compiled, and they begin to provide an institutional roadmap to achieving the stated goals of this process. Last week, Valparaiso University faculty and staff were updated on the next step in our strategic plan’s operational sustainability initiative. Under-enrolled academic programs have been identified to enter the program discontinuance review process. Through this process, faculty and administration work to review the viability of each program for possible improvements.
Please refer to this campus communication for more information.
Processes like this one are a sign of a healthy institution with a strong foundation that knows change is vital to its continued success. Our vision for Valpo is ambitious and clear. We will continue to evolve to provide the best college experience possible for our students and meet workforce demands.
If you have any questions, please feel free to send them to president@valpo.edu.
Upcoming Events
Valpo Men’s Basketball Fan Zone
March 7 - 10, 2024
Ballpark Village | St. Louis, Missouri
We’re taking the Valpo Fan Zone on the road! Watch Valpo Men's Basketball play in the Arch Madness Missouri Valley Conference tournament. Before each game, join fellow alumni and friends for the Valpo Fan Zone events at Ballpark Village. Game times are still pending, but plan to come on down for all the fun and excitement!
Click here for
recipe cards
and photos!
Upcoming Episodes
March 12, 2024 | 6:00 p.m. CST
Marketing Team of One
Joe Skibbie has been helping small businesses “Be Seen” and “Be Heard” for over 20 years. He understands the rapidly shifting communications environment and brings his experience as a small business advocate and entrepreneur to his clients.
William proposed to Ursula outside Guild-Memorial Hall. Now, they have five children and twelve grandchildren. Four of their children also attended Valparaiso University...
Click here to Uncover William & Ursula’s Full Love Story!
Your tale of love may have begun on our picturesque campus, or perhaps you reconnected after graduation – no matter how your journey began, we want to hear about it!
Campus Connection
Music Performances
April 11-14, 2024
University Theatre | Valparaiso University
Tuck Everlasting performances will take place April 11 and 12 at 8:00 p.m. CST, and April 13 and 14 at 2:00 p.m. CST.
Saturday, April 13, 2024 | 7:30 p.m.
Chapel of the Resurrection | Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University Symphony Orchestra
Class Notes
We heard you! Many of you told us you'd love to have a place to read the submitted class notes we receive. We're pleased to let you know that we have now added this to our website! Now, you can submit your own notes about your announcements and accomplishments AND read all about those of your fellow Beacons as well.
Check it out at alumni.valpo.edu/classnotes. We can’t wait to hear from you!
As Senior Manager for the Toyota Collaborative Safety Research Center, I was recently selected to receive the 2023 Elaine Wodzin Award by the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). The award recognizes researchers and emerging leaders dedicated to the field of traffic injury control who have a specific achievement in automotive medicine. Valpo's emphasis on career vocation and societal contribution has greatly influenced how I've pursued my calling to enhance the safety of our customers as well as all mobility-related industries. Valpo's Christ College experience prepared me to think broadly about God's vision for his kingdom and how God invites us into his restorative work in the world.
- Jason Hallman '06
Views from Valpo
Dot Nuechterlein kept score for her two final games at the Athletics-Recreation Center – her celebration game on Feb. 21 vs. Indiana State and Senior Day on March 3 vs. Illinois State, before retiring her stripes.
Valparaiso University Guild
Since 1931, the Valparaiso University Guild has sought to enhance the experience of Valpo students through their various initiatives. The Guild has provided more than $4 million of support for campus improvements and scholarships. Learn about the history of the Guild, check out the newly digitized Guild Cookbooks, and check out their brand-new website today!
Quick Links
Valparaiso University Career & Alumni Network
1509 Chapel Drive | Valparaiso, IN 46383 United States
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